1894_3-5-Mar 2001-strong copy.jpg

Elizabeth Strong Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:49:26 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:14 PM

Added description

Description

Elizabeth Strong Correspondence Collection (1894)

Overview

The Elizabeth Strong Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of eight scanned images of handwritten letters written in 1894 by Elizabeth B. Strong to her friend and photographer, Miss E. A. Austin (Elizabeth Alice Austen). The letters are dated March 5 and April 30, 1894, and are presented in their original order as a single, compact collection. Each page is available as a high‑resolution JPEG with accompanying OCR text. The collection is housed by the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York, and is accessible online through the museum’s digital repository.

Background

Elizabeth B. Strong was a close correspondent of Alice Austen, a pioneering American photographer who lived on Staten Island. Austen’s home, now a museum, preserves a rich archive of Victorian‑era documents that illuminate the social and cultural life of upper‑middle‑class families in the late 19th century. Strong’s letters provide a personal window into this milieu, reflecting the everyday concerns, social events, and familial ties that bound the community together.

Contents

  • March 5, 1894 (five pages): The letters discuss invitations to Dr. and Mrs. Woodbridge, mention the Franklin Park murders, and reference a family dinner hosted by Dr. Lafrey. Strong also notes her own plans for the day, the birthday of “Alan,” and her reflections on the social calendar.
  • April 30, 1894 (three pages): These letters express sympathy for Alice’s grandfather’s sudden death in Colorado Springs, recount details of the funeral, and describe the emotional impact on the family. Strong also mentions the death of a relative, Griswold Van Penschalio, and offers condolences to Alice.

All letters are addressed to Miss E. A. Austin, signed “Elizabeth B. Strong,” and include the sender’s residence in Rosebank, Staten Island, with occasional references to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Colorado Springs.

Scope

The collection covers a brief period in 1894, focusing on personal correspondence that reveals Victorian social life, mourning practices, and community networks in Staten Island and surrounding areas. It is a valuable primary source for scholars studying late‑Victorian culture, family dynamics, and the social history of New York City’s outer boroughs.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island_ny}

@staten_island_ny:place {city: "Staten Island", state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@elizabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elizabeth B. Strong", relation: "correspondent of @alice_austen"}

@alice_austen_house:organization {name: "Alice Austen House Museum", location: @staten_island_ny, type: "museum"}

@elizabeth_strong_correspondence_collection:collection {title: "Elizabeth Strong Correspondence Collection", creator: @elizabeth_strong, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1894, language: "en", subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Victorian social life","Family relationships","Death and mourning","Staten Island history"], description: "Personal letters from Elizabeth B. Strong to Alice Austen in 1894 discussing social events, family matters, and personal reflections."}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @elizabeth_strong_correspondence_collection

@date_1894_03_05:date_1894_03_05

@letter_page_2001:document {page_number: 1, source_file: @file_1894_3_5_mar_2001_strong_copy_jpg, date: @date_1894_03_05, sender: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, content_summary: "Header with Miss E. A. Austin, Rosebank P.C., Staten Island"} 

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_page_2001

@file_1894_3_5_mar_2002_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_page_2002:document {page_number: 2, date: @date_1894_03_05, sender: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, content_summary: "Invitation to Dr. and Mrs. Woodbridge, mention of Franklin Park murders, personal plans for the day, Alan's birthday, and Dr. Lafrey's family dinner."}

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_page_2002

@file_1894_3_5_mar_2003_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_page_2003:document {page_number: 3, date: @date_1894_03_05, sender: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, content_summary: "Discussion of local families, school class, book sent by uncle, children Etta and Eva, family composition."}

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_page_2003

@file_1894_3_5_mar_2004_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_page_2004:document {page_number: 4, date: @date_1894_03_05, sender: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, content_summary: "References to a storm, a concert, lectures, musical performances, and a funeral for Miss McCorran."}

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_page_2004

@file_1894_3_5_mar_2005_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_page_2005:document {page_number: 5, date: @date_1894_03_05, sender: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, content_summary: "Mother's death, wedding of teenage couple, letter from Helen Randall, mention of tonsillitis."}

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_page_2005

@date_1894_04_30:date_1894_04_30

@letter_page_3001:document {page_number: 1, source_file: @file_1894_4_30_april_3_1_strong_copy_jpg, date: @date_1894_04_30, sender: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, content_summary: "Sympathy for Alice's grandfather's death, mention of Griswold Van Penschalio's death in Colorado Springs."}

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_page_3001

@letter_page_3002:document {page_number: 2, source_file: @file_1894_4_30_april_3_2_strong_copy_jpg, date: @date_1894_04_30, sender: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, content_summary: "Details of Alice's grandfather (De Lancey's nephew) death in Colorado, sudden blood loss, family grief."}

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_page_3002

@letter_page_3003:document {page_number: 3, source_file: @file_1894_4_30_april_3003_strong_copy_jpg, date: @date_1894_04_30, sender: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, content_summary: "Closing signature with Miss E.A. Austin, Rosebank P.O., Staten Island."}

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_page_3003

@alice_austen_grandfather:person {relation: "grandfather of @alice_austen"}

@grandfather_death:event {subject: @alice_austen_grandfather, when: @date_1894_04_30, location: @colorado_springs_co, cause: "sudden death (found in a pool of blood)"}

@colorado_springs_co:place {city: "Colorado Springs", state: "Colorado", country: @united_states}

@alice_austen_grandfather -> died in -> @grandfather_death

@juliamartin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend of @elizabeth_strong"}

@juliebredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt", relationship: "correspondent of @elizabeth_strong"}

@violetward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward", relationship: "correspondent of @elizabeth_strong"}

@isabellaking:person {full_name: "Isabella King", relationship: "photograph buyer from @elizabeth_strong"}

@bessiestrong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong", relationship: "family member of @elizabeth_strong"}

@elizabeth_strong -> corresponded with -> [@juliamartin, @juliebredt, @violetward, @isabellaking, @bessiestrong]

@fair_1893:event {name: "World's Columbian Exposition", year: @date_1893, location: @chicago_il}

@date_1893:date_1893

@chicago_il:place {city: "Chicago", state: "Illinois", country: @united_states}

@elizabeth_strong -> sold photographs from -> @fair_1893

@steainway_piano:object {type: "piano", brand: "Steinway"}

@elizabeth_strong -> discussed purchase of -> @steainway_piano

@dr_woodbridge:person {title: "Dr.", surname: "Woodbridge"}

@mrs_woodbridge:person {title: "Mrs.", surname: "Woodbridge"}

@theodore:person {first_name: "Theodore"}

@alan:person {first_name: "Alan"}

@dr_lafrey:person {title: "Dr.", surname: "Lafrey"}

@dr_woodbridge -> invited to -> @letter_page_2002

@mrs_woodbridge -> invited to -> @letter_page_2002

@theodore -> invited to -> @letter_page_2002

@alan -> birthday -> @date_1894_03_05

@dr_lafrey -> hosted -> family_dinner:event {date: @date_1894_03_05, location: @unknown_location}

@unknown_location:place {description: "unspecified location mentioned in correspondence"}

Metadata

Files (8)

1894_3-5-Mar 2001-strong copy.jpgJPEG
456.46 KB
OCR Text

Miss E. A. Austin Rosebank P.C. Staten Island, N.Y.

1894_3-5-Mar 2002-strong copy.jpgJPEG
2.75 MB
OCR Text

inviting Dr. and Mrs. Woodbridge also. I dined there last Thursday night, Theodore also. He remained all right to act as protector, Alan being out of town. Did you ever hear anything more horrible than the Franklin Park murders? It made me almost sick to think of it, but there was some satisfaction in the thought that those rutes had to pay the penalty so quickly. Yours, Baker and his New Brunswick March 5th /94 My dear Alice— I have been debating within myself whether to go to town this morning or put it off until afternoon; but finally concluded to do the latter, because I can always accomplish more at home in the forenoon. This is Alan's birthday, and tonight Dr. Lafrey gives a family dinner.

1894_3-5-Mar 2003-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.7 MB
OCR Text

Wife were very well known in town; both he and his brother were in Richard Mac Donald's class in the Grammar School. Everyone speaks very highly of Mrs. Baker, and they had such a cozy, attractive home in Franklin Park. I made the desired inquiry at Reed and Randolph's and learned that it was your uncle who sent the book. Etta Parker gave me the same thing for Christmas, but I have not yet read it. By the way, Etta has another girl, and Eva another boy, all parties doing remarkably well. Etta arrived on the 21st, and Eva on the 26th. Pity the order could not have been reversed, or rather that the youngsters could not have been changed for now. Etta has three girls, and Eva two boys. Variety is the spice of life in that respect, as well as any other, I suppose. Last night the "Shrood" people and

1894_3-5-Mar 2004-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.85 MB
OCR Text

Fortunately he father away. Great Pan Dyke took tea with us. Put up school to hear Mr. Phelps with us. Jack had about 100 people at his door to get there. Richard a thousand people at his. April I celebrated the storm. Was too sick not to attend Philadelphia Bible-Printing. As we gave up the concert the original storm, and of that evening; put a back Wednesday lecture tomorrow. From to-night Bradford shall oft see him again. Some of the Gilbert family, for some time as he goes and some students to give to Quashington and Bolton a musical performance this week. The Ophla House, to shed to bare the storm which we are going, unless last Monday, as the thee should & another play - Chris has requested to sing at Miss McCorran's yard. Miss McCorran was buried funeral, on the afternoon on Monday, as I told you. It was at the church,

1894_3-5-Mar 2005-strong copy.jpgJPEG
2.01 MB
OCR Text

Mother died probably owing to the shock of her daughter's death, though they thought at first she did not realize it. She was somewhat childish. Word came of her death while I was at The Foolidge's Wednesday morning. I stayed with Helen Thursday night. Before going to the Boys' Club we had a wedding at the house, the bride not yet sixteen and the groom eighteen. The latter a Red Decker's. The Doctor did not want to marry them but the girl announced her intention of going off with him. The fellow anyway (he is going to immigration) and her parents could do nothing with her so he got married. It was a most pitiful thing an amusing sight, Thomas Freeman and his sister-in-law. At the same time I got a letter from Helen Randall saying I am going with her and that Rosalie is at home. How long she had been there I don't know but she had two to have an attack of tonsillitis since her return. Mother

1894_4-30-April 3.1-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.48 MB
OCR Text

your household, and how you will miss your grandfather, for he was so devoted to you. Has he ill for any length of time, or did death come suddenly? It seems as though so many people I have known of, or was interested in, had died this year. Perhaps you saw in the papers the notice of Griswold Van Penschalio's death in Colorado Springs. Nor Brunswick. April 30th/94 My dear Alice:— Saturday's Tribune brought us the news that your grandfather had passed away. From what you said when here I knew you thought the end not very far off, but death is always a shock, even though not entirely unexpected. I know what a gap this will make in

1894_4-30-April 3.2-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.5 MB
OCR Text

He was De Lancey's nephew, the only one bearing the Van Rensselaer name, and had gone to Colorado for his health. He had so much benefited the doctors said he could come home for six weeks, and he and his mother were all packed up ready to leave next day—Monday. Sunday morning he was late in getting up, and his mother going in his room at last to call him, found him dead in a pool of blood! And only the night before he had been telling how perfectly well he felt. I should think his mother would be beside herself; she was nearly wild when her husband died, and this was her only child. Hope you are well. Mother joins me in love and sympathy. I am going to answer your letter soon. Always aff'ly, Elizabeth B. Strong

1894_4-30-April 3003-strong copy.jpgJPEG
479 KB
OCR Text

Miss E.A. Austin Rosebank P.O. Staten Island New York

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:49:26 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:56:42 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:53:31 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:14 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Personal_Letters_Elizabeth_Strong"

Parent

01KC29FE5ZKKYK14D7TSAK7R28

No children (leaf entity)